Written answers

Tuesday, 16 April 2013

Department of Justice and Equality

Services for People with Disabilities

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will introduce measures to remove barriers by persons with disabilities in accessing the justice system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17177/13]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Disability Act 2005 is a positive action measure designed to support the provision of and improve access to mainstream public services for people with disabilities. This mainstreaming approach to disability matters encourages equity of access to services provided by all Government Departments and their agencies for people with disabilities. I can assure the Deputy that all the State agencies under my Department's remit are fully committed to meeting their obligations under the Disability Act 2005.

Specifically agencies under the aegis of my Department are committed to accommodating the needs of all citizens in accessing public buildings and facilities. This includes the provision of facilities for persons with a disability or special needs. The Deputy will appreciate that the architectural and design features of many public buildings present considerable challenges in this regard as do the present circumstances regarding availability of resources. All new refurbishment projects include disabled access to public buildings. An activity (6.4) of the National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence undertakes to identify and promote suitable state service responses in relation to domestic and sexual violence for vulnerable or high-risk groups. People with a disability are recognised as such a group. Activity 7.1 of the strategy undertakes to promote and develop practices and protocols on inter-agency referrals and coordination. Under these activities the National Disability Authority are engaging with An Garda Síochána and with the Courts Service in relation to developing proposals to improve the response of both organisations in interacting with people with disabilities in accessing the justice system. Contact between the National Disability Authority and the Courts Service and An Garda Síochána is continuing with the advice and guidance of the National Steering Committee on Violence against Women.

The enactment of Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) legislation is also an important step forward in ensuring people with disabilities are supported where necessary to enable them to make important legal decisions, removing barriers that may exist at present in this area. Drafting of the Bill is being finalised with a view to meeting the commitment in the Government Legislation Programme which indicates that the Bill is expected to be published in the current session. The Bill will be in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which has as one of its principles supporting people with impaired capacity in making decisions and exercising their basic rights. Work is being completed to properly align the provisions of the Bill with the principles contained in the Convention.

The National Disability Strategy (NDS) is the main mechanism through which people with disabilities are supported to live full and independent lives. The various actions and measures contained in the Strategy help to remove any barriers and to allow those with a disability to access mainstream services on an equal basis with others. I established the NDS Implementation Group last year which I chair. Presently this group is in the final stages of developing an Implementation Plan for the Strategy.

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